Low output volume of Airport Express

I recently got a new iMac and switched over from using PCs all my previous life. I had an Airport Express that I used with Airfoil for Windows to send music from my computer to the main audio system in the house. It worked pretty well. When I went to configure the Airport on the Mac it appeared as if no changes were necessary. I went into iTunes and enabled the output for the audio system and got no sound. After some debugging I found out that there was indeed sound but the output level was so low that I had to crank my stereo system way up. Way, way up. My normal setting for the output level is -20 dB or so. With the Airfoil I had to set it to +20dB or so. I didn't have to do this previously when I used it on the Windows system. In some ways I guess you could say that it works but I'm very leery of using it because I would always need to remember to crank the audio output level way down before switching to another audio source or else I would get blasted out.

I tried changing the output level in iTunes and also fiddled with the Disable iTunes Volume Control for Remote Speakers and the Allow iTunes control from remote speakers settings with no luck. At this point I don't really think I can use it unless I can get a much higher output level from the Mac.

Any suggestions?